Fire-resistant and noise attenuating recessed lighting assembly

Abstract

A fire resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly adapted to be recessed or mounted behind a ceiling or other surface comprising a light fixture mounted on a plaster frame and adapted to emit light through an opening in the plaster frame and an insulating blanket deployed around the light fixture except for an opening in the light fixture through which light is emitted. In one embodiment, a shell attached to the plaster frame substantially surrounds the insulating blanket. Among other things, the fire-resistant lighting assembly is capable of sustaining fire barrier standards for a ceiling or other surface and maintains the acoustic insulation of the ceiling or other surface thereby reducing noise transmission.

1 . A fire resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly, comprising:
 a light fixture having an opening for emitting light; and   an insulation blanket adapted to substantially enclose the light fixture except for the opening;   wherein the light fixture is adapted to be mounted behind a surface opening defined by a surface of an adjoining wall structure so that the opening of the light fixture is adjacent the surface opening.   
   
   
       2 . The fire resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the insulation blanket provides thermal insulation and sound absorption. 
   
   
       3 . The fire-resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the thermal insulation provides enough insulation to pass the one-hour or two-hour Fire Rated L500 Ceiling Assembly test and where the sound absorption provides a sound absorption coefficient of 0.4 to 1.1 for sound frequencies between 500 and 2000 hertz. 
   
   
       4 . The fire-resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the insulation blanket comprises at least one continuous piece of flexible material that substantially encloses at least two sides of the light fixture. 
   
   
       5 . The fire-resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the adjoining wall structure comprises a floor-ceiling assembly, said floor-ceiling assembly having a fire rating, and wherein the insulation blanket is capable of substantially maintaining the fire rating of the floor-ceiling assembly after the fire-resistant lighting assembly is installed. 
   
   
       6 . The fire-resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly according to  claim 5  wherein the lighting assembly is capable of being Underwriters Laboratories-certified for maintaining a fire rating in a UL L500, D500, G500, D200, G200, or L200 floor/ceiling assembly for one hour or less. 
   
   
       7 . The fire-resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the lighting assembly is capable of being Underwriters Laboratories-certified for maintaining a fire rating in UL L500, D500, G500, D200, G200, or L200 floor/ceiling assemblies of two or more hours. 
   
   
       8 . The fire-resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the insulating blanket is a non-combustible matt. 
   
   
       9 . The fire-resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the insulation blanket is substantially comprised of alkaline earth silicate fibers. 
   
   
       10 . The fire-resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the insulation blanket is substantially comprised of refractory ceramic fibers. 
   
   
       11 . The fire-resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly according to  claim 10  wherein the refractory ceramic fibers are vitreous silicate fibers. 
   
   
       12 . The fire-resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising a shell substantially enclosing the light fixture and the insulation blanket except for the opening in the light fixture. 
   
   
       13 . The fire-resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly according to  claim 12  further comprising a plaster frame to which the light fixture and the shell are attached. 
   
   
       14 . The fire-resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly according to  claim 13  wherein the insulating blanket is adjacent to the light fixture and secured in place by the shell. 
   
   
       15 . The fire-resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly according to  claim 14  wherein the insulating blanket comprises at least one piece of a non-combustible flexible matt. 
   
   
       16 . A fire-resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly, comprising:
 a light fixture having an opening through which light is emitted and adapted to be mounted behind a surface having an opening through which the light passes;   a flexible insulation blanket adapted to substantially enclose the light fixture except for the opening in the light fixture;   a shell substantially enclosing the insulation blanket; and   wherein the flexible insulation blanket comprises at least one continuous piece of flexible material that substantially encloses at least two sides of the light fixture.   
   
   
       17 . The fire-resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly according to  claim 16  wherein the shell is adapted to protect the insulation blanket from exterior forces. 
   
   
       18 . A fire-resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly, comprising:
 a plaster frame having an opening therein;   a light fixture attached to the plaster frame wherein the light fixture is substantially above the plaster frame and light emitted by the light fixture passes through the opening in the plaster frame;   a flexible insulation blanket adapted to substantially enclose the light fixture above the plaster frame; and   a shell attached to the plaster frame and adapted to substantially enclose the insulation.   
   
   
       19 . The fire-resistant and sound-attenuating lighting assembly according to  claim 18 , further comprising a junction box attached to the plaster frame and in electrical connection with the light fixture. 
   
   
       20 . A fire-resistant and sound-attenuating recessed ceiling lighting assembly adapted to be mounted between two joists of a ceiling structure and above a ceiling panel, comprising:
 a plaster frame having an upper side and a lower side and an opening therebetween;   at least one adjustable bar hanger attached to the plaster frame, wherein the adjustable bar hangar has two bars adapted for attachment to spaced joists;   a light fixture having an opening, wherein the light fixture is attached to the plaster frame so that the light fixture is substantially located above the upper side of the plaster frame so that the opening in the light fixture is adjacent the opening in the plaster frame;   a junction box attached to the plaster frame and in electrical connection with the light fixture;   a fire-resistant container attached to the upper side of the plaster frame wherein the fire-resistant container comprises:
 a shell defining a compartment having an opening in the shell communicating with the compartment wherein the compartment is adapted so that the light fixture is substantially contained within the compartment when the shell is attached to the plaster frame; and 
 a flexible insulation blanket placed between the shell and the light fixture wherein the insulation substantially encloses the housing above the opening in the housing; 
   wherein the flexible insulation blanket comprises at least one continuous piece of flexible material that substantially encloses at least two sides of the light fixture.